International Fuel Cells, LLC

Utc Power Corporation

United Technologies Corporation

Doosan Fuel Cell America, Inc.

Doosan Fuel Cell Amreica, Inc.

Leslie L VanDine

John C Trocciola

Paul R Hanrahan

Richard A Sederquist

Joshua David Isom

John L Preston

Derek W Hildreth

Valerie A Maston

Raymond M Smith

Theodore S Malinowski

Paul A Grubb

Alexander H Levy

Lynn Hamilton

Lynn Reni

An example method of decontaminating a fuel reactant stream for a fuel cell flows the fuel reactant stream through a fluidized ammonia dissolving media, while simultaneously flowing water through the fluidized ammonia dissolving media to separate contaminants from the fuel reactant stream into a separated contaminant and water stream. The separated contaminant and water stream from the fluidized bed is accumulated within an accumulator, circulated through a water-control loop, and decontaminated by flowing the stream through an ion exchange bed secured in fluid communication with the water-control loop. A decontaminated water stream from the ion exchange bed is circulated back through the ammonia dissolving media. A temperature of the fuel reactant stream is controlled upstream of the fuel reactant stream entering the separator scrubber to produce a predetermined temperature of the fuel reactant stream passing through the separator scrubber.

Method of decontaminating a fuel reactant stream for a fuel cell

A fluidized contaminant separator and water-control loop () decontaminates a fuel reactant stream of a fuel cell (). Water passes over surfaces of an ammonia dissolving media () within a fluidized bed () while the fuel reactant stream simultaneously passes over the surfaces to dissolve contaminants from the fuel reactant stream into a separated contaminant and water stream. A fuel-control heat exchanger () upstream from the scrubber () removes heat from the fuel stream. A water-control loop () directs flow of the separated contaminants and water stream from an accumulator () through an ion exchange bed () which removes contaminants from the stream. Decontaminated water is directed back into the scrubber () to flow through the fluidized bed (). Separating contaminants from the fuel reactant stream and then isolating and concentrating the separated contaminants within the ion exchange material () minimizes costs and maintenance requirements.

Fluidized bed contaminant separator and water-control loop for a fuel reactant stream of a fuel cell

A fuel cell cooling system includes a fuel cell having a liquid loop that produces water vapor. An antifreeze cooling loop includes an inductor that receives the water vapor and introduces the water vapor to an antifreeze. The water is separated from the antifreeze and returned to the liquid cooling loop as liquid water after the mixture of condensed water vapor and antifreeze has passed through a radiator. Water in the liquid cooling loop exits the fuel cell and passes through a restricting valve thereby lowering the pressure of the water. A flash cooler downstream from the restricting valve collects the water vapor and provides it to the inductor in the antifreeze cooling loop. The flash cooling in the first cooling loop provides a first cooling capacity that is low temperature and pressure compatible with fuel cell operation.

System and method for reducing radiator sizes for low temperature fuel cell systems

A fuel cell cooling system () includes a fuel cell () having a liquid loop () that produces water vapor. An antifreeze cooling loop () includes an inductor () that receives the water vapor and introduces the water vapor to an antifreeze. The water is separated () from the antifreeze and returned to the liquid cooling loop as liquid water () after the mixture of condensed water vapor and antifreeze has passed through a radiator (). Water in the liquid cooling loop () exits the fuel cell () and passes through a restricting valve () thereby lowering the pressure of the water A flash cooler () downstream from the restricting valve collects the water vapor and provides it to the inductor () in the antifreeze cooling loop ().

A control system and method for controlling a fuel processing system operational to produce a gas for a downstream process from a fuel, wherein the fuel processing system uses a plurality of fuel processing elements, a fuel input and a waste gas input, each of the fuel processing elements having an individual output and the plurality of fuel processing elements having a collective output, and wherein the downstream process has a waste gas output and a dynamic gas load demand. The control system includes a device for receiving communication from the downstream process indicative of the dynamic load demand and a device for controlling the collective output level of the gas in response to the dynamic load demand. The device for controlling is operative to at least one of substantially equally distribute the dynamic load demand among the plurality of fuel processing elements such that the individual outputs from each of the fuel processing elements are substantially equal to each other for forming the collective output and most efficiently distribute the dynamic load among the plurality of fuel processing elements such that at least one of the individual outputs contributes to the collective output.

Control system and method for controlling a gas generating system

A system for generating a desired output gas from an input fuel for use in a downstream process is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of fuel processing units to generate the desired output gas, wherein each of the plurality of fuel processing units includes a reformer which uses waste gas output from the downstream process to facilitate the processing of the fuel. Each of the fuel processing units is operational over a range up to full capacity, wherein the plurality of fuel processing units are interconnected in an collective operating scheme to process the fuel. A control system is provided for controlling the plurality of fuel processing units in response to requirements of a dynamic load demand from the downstream operation. The control system is operative to adjust the operational level of each of the plurality of fuel processing units to produce individual responses from each of the fuel processing units. The individual responses are combined to produce a collective response for meeting the requirements of the dynamic load demand. A method for generating a desired output gas from an input fuel for use in a downstream process is also provided.

Gas generating system and method

The cell stack can be operated as a fuel cell stack or as an electrolysis cell stack. The stack consists of a series of alternate fuel cell subassemblies with intervening electrolysis cell subassemblies, and interspersed cooling plates. The water produced and consumed in the two modes of operation migrates between adjacent cell subassemblies. The component plates are annular with a central hydrogen plenum and integral internal oxygen manifolds. No fluid pumps are needed to operate the stack in either mode.

Static regenerative fuel cell system for use in space

An efficient process for the production of nitrogen from air using a fuel cell to provide both electrical power and an oxygen depleted gas stream to a liquefaction apparatus is disclosed. An apparatus for the production of nitrogen incorporating a fuel cell is also disclosed.

Apparatus for producing nitrogen

Spaced based burst power fuel cells generate large thermal loads in very short time periods. In order to avoid external venting or the use of heavy radiators in space vehicles, such fuel cells must include onboard closed-loop cooling systems. Utilizing subcooled ice as a cooling medium, contactable with either the anode, cathode or coolant recirculating stream provides the fuel cell with a safe, highly efficient and low weight heat absorption capability.

Growing community of inventors

Manchester, CT, United States of America

Leslie L VanDine